Daisy in the Field | Page 7

called to the parlour one day to
see Mrs. Sandford. All winter I had not seen her; she had not been in
New York. I think she was unaffectedly glad to see me; somehow my
presence was pleasant to her.
"Out of school!" she exclaimed, after a few greetings had passed.
"Almost out of school. A woman, Daisy. My dear, I never see you but I
am struck with the change in you. Don't change any more! you are just
right."
I laughed and asked her, what was the change in me? I had not grown
taller.
"No -" said Mrs. Sandford - "I don't know that you have; but your

figure is improved, and you have the air of being taller, Daisy. I never
saw you looking so well. My dear, what work you are going to do now!
now that you are out of the 'elements.' And by the by - what are you
going to do, when school closes and you are set free?"
I said I could not tell; I had received no directions. I was waiting for
letters from somewhere, to tell me what I must do.
"Suppose you go with me to Washington."
"Washington!" - I ejaculated, and therewith the power of speech left
me.
"Yes. You are not afraid, Daisy, that you look at me so? Some people
are afraid, I know, and think Washington is going to be stormed by the
Southern army; but that is all nonsense, Grant says; and I always trust
Grant. He knows. He wants me to come. He says Washington is a novel
sight just now, and I may never have such another chance; and I think I
shall do as he says and go. Washington is full of soldiers, and no ladies
in it. You are not afraid?"
"Oh, no. But - Dr. Sandford has not written to me to come."
"Yes, he has; or something very like it. He asked me to come and see
you as I passed through the city - I was not likely to need his
admonition, Daisy, my dear, for it always does me good to see you; -
and he added that I might suggest to you that I was coming, and ask
you if your curiosity inclined you to take the trouble of the journey. He
said he thought it worth while, - and that we would both find it so."
I was dumb. Dr. Sandford little knew to what he was inviting me; and I
- and Thorold - What a strange chance.
"Well, what are you pondering?" Mrs. Sandford cried gaily. "Dresses?
You don't care for dresses; besides, we can have them made in two
minutes. Don't you want to go, Daisy? I am sure you do; and I am sure
Grant will take famous good care of us, and you specially, and show us
the camps and everything. And don't you want to see the President?"

"I have seen him."
"When, and where?"
"In the street - when he went through, on his way to Washington."
"Well, I don't care much for Presidents; but this one they say so many
different things about, that it makes me curious. Don't you want to see
him again?"
"Yes - I would like it."
"Then you'll come with me - I see it; and I'll have everything in
readiness. Thursday, does your school-work end? then we will go
Saturday. You will want one day perhaps, besides, they say Friday is
unlucky. I never go a journey on Friday."
"I would as lieve go Friday as any day," I said.
"Oh, well - Saturday will be soon enough; and now good-bye, my dear;
you to your work and I to mine. You are beautiful, my dear Daisy!" she
added, kissing me.
I wondered if it was true. If it was, I was glad, for Thorold's sake. I
knew it would be a pleasure to him. And to my father and mother also;
but that brought other thoughts, and I went off to my studies.
CHAPTER II.
AT THE RENDEZVOUS.
The examination was over and school ended for me, before I had one
half hour to spare to go to see Miss Cardigan. The examination had
passed as I could have wished it might; all had gone well; and I could
afford to put by that whole train of thought, even as I put up my
school-books and stowed them away; being things that I should not
immediately want again. Some time would pass, it was likely, before I
would need to refresh my memory with mathematics or philosophy.

My music was another matter, and I kept that out.
I put my books hastily as well as securely away; and then took my hat
and rushed over to Miss Cardigan's. It was a